The fastest legal eviction in Florida is the clean eviction. Start with the right notice and serve it correctly. For nonpayment, use a 3-business-day notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, demanding only rent that is actually due. If the tenant does not pay or move, file the eviction complaint, lease, notice, and proof of service immediately. Ask the clerk to issue summons and have the sheriff or a process server serve the tenant. If the tenant fails to respond in 5 business days, move for clerk’s default, final judgment, and writ of possession. Do not accept partial payments unless you understand the effect. Mistakes and bad notices usually slow the case down and cost landlords more money later.
Sources: Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3), Fla. Stat. § 83.56(5), Fla. Stat. § 83.59, Fla. Stat. § 83.60, and Fla. Stat. § 83.62; K.D. Lewis Enterprises Corp. v. Smith, 445 So. 2d 1032 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984).
Case note: K.D. Lewis is the kind of case landlords should remember because a defective notice can wreck or delay an eviction. Basically, getting the notice right at the start is what makes the case move fast.
